Apparatus for heating and softening shoes and parts thereof



July 24, 1-928. 1,678,140

F. M. FURBER APPARATUS FOR HEATING AND SOFTENING SHOES AND PARTS THEREOFMay 9, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 24, 1928. T 1,678,140

F. M. FURBER APPARATUS FOR HEATING AND SOFIENING SHOES AND PARTS THEREOFFiled May 9, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 24, 1928.

I UNlTEJD STATES RATE NT? OFFICE.

REQ-E C FUhBFB; 9 BE BF: r ess s rirrs' essence TQIVNITED HOEaonrnnnvoonronamon, on rA'r nnson, NEW JERSEY, A oonroimrron OF newJansen lit-renames non II-YIEATING. nun sorrnnrne snons' nun rearsTHEREOF;

Application filed May 9,

This invention relates to. apparatus for An object of he invention is toprovide an improved organization ofthe type com.- prising vaporizingmeans and nieaa is for supplying Water to-be'vaporiz ed .t l ereby,v andin which organization there shallv be aderpiate provisionfor takingcare. of over flow in case the opeiator neglects-to shirt off the supplyof water when the apparatus is not in use or permits. the Water tobesupplied too copiously While the. apparatus is in use.

novel construction ofIthe vaporizingelement by which the overflow, iiitherebefia/ny,v will]: be discharged at a point or points Where it willnot wet the lasts orwthe uppers associated therewith. Another featurerelated thereto consists in providing a tank to, re ceive the overflow.

When, as in the illustrated" design,- the quantity of Water to besuppliedi to the vae 'porizingelenient is limited: asupply tank, afeature of the invention consistsuin proportiouing the supply tank andthe overflow tank so that the latter will: hold as much wa ter as theformer can supply at onefill-ingi and thus guard against flooding thebench or floor.

Still another feature consists; in forming the base of the apparatus topIOVIdB the aforesaid overflow tank, lIl: which, respectthe utility ofthe base. is increased to good: ad:- vantago.

Another ob eot of the invention is to conserve the heat in thevaporizingelement much as possible by restricting its means of escape byconduction. For practical reasons- A feature of the invention consistsin" a' 1923. Serial No. 637,891 7 Such .nipunting would ordinarilyinvolve considerable aerial: contact 0f the ;two,cast iron elementssuch. that the heat. developed in the vaporizing element would havecon-= siderabl'e opportunity to be dissipated by; conduction to thebase. A feature. of the invention. which guards against such heat lossconsists in, providing the base and the vaporizing element withcontacting portions which support the latter and, restrict the ac-. tualcontact to a negligible aggregate area and yet afford a firm mounting.Moreover, these portions are, preferably for-med to provide ananti-slip, mounting. Again, if the vaporizing elementis connected tothebase to fasten itpositivelly against displacement the connectingmeansinay'also be designed to. minimize conduction of heat, and for thispurpose the illustrated construction includes two connecting elementseach so long and yet so, restricted in cross {sectional area that theircapacity to conductwhezrt from the vaporizer to the base is-negl-igible.y

The featu es a ve descri e are p ci l y advantageous-s n n: pparatus hatut li s" electricity as; the heating .1Il6l l l;1ill1',;% 111d theillustrated apparatus! is, in fachidesig-ned to utilize electric heatingincansfl It is necessary, however, to guard against Wetting theelectrical equipment, and accordingly a fur-i ther feature. of theinvention consists in inn proved Ineansfor protecting, the electrioelemen s from being; Wet by carelesshandling of tie Water used in theapparatus.

Other features of the invention archers: inafter described. and claimedand are illustrated bythe accompanying drawings.

Referring tothe-drawingsze i i Fig. .1, is a front elevation of aheatingand softening apparatus embodying the in vention in apreferredforni; Q iy Fig. 2 is an end eleyation thereof partly in section. andincluding anassembled shoe in; position for treatinenttand Fig 3 isa sectional viewon allergen scale of the st uctu e interes e he i v 3 v ofFigrl. 1 I

I The apparatus comprises three principal cast iron: units, viz fasupporting base 10: a heat radiator 11,..21i1d'it atentank 1-2. Thebottom. of, the base 10 is provided with bosses 13 which, if theapparatus is to be installed on a bench, may rest on the bench, but ifit,

hereinafter explained the base preferably embodies the form water.

The width of the base 10 and heat radiator 11 is preferably sufficientto accommodate a series of four or more shoes arranged side by side,although a capacity for four shoes. is usually sufficient. As shown byFig. 1, the heat radiator 11 is shaped like the span of a bridge, havingtwo bosses'15 at each end .to provide pedestals by which it may stand onany suitable supporting means. i In the. illus trated design the base 10is provided with supporting bosses 16 arranged to register with thebosses 15. These bosses, which cooperate with each other in pairs, arethe only portions that afford contact of the radiator with the base, andthey are preferably formed to restrict the areas of contact'to' merepoints to minimize thetransmission of heat. For this reason thecontacting portions of the'bosses are preferably beveled to sharp edges15 and 16 which are arranged to cross one another and therefore touchonly at the points of intersection. This construction affords aconsiderable range of horizon tal adjustment of the radiator relativelyto the base to permit binding screws 17 extend ing downwardly throughholes in the radiator to register with tapped holes in the'base.

Two binding screws are suflicient, and'theyare preferably long andslender to minim ze conduction of heat, and arranged one {ateach side oftheapparatus as shown by Fig. 1 and between the pairs of contactingbosses as shown by Fig. 2. When the binding screws are set up tightlythe crossed edges of the bosses hold-the radiator securely againstlateral displacement, thereby relieving the binding screws from lateralstresses. I

i The forward portion of the base 10 is provided with a platform 18which may be made of wood and which serves as a support for the lasts ofthe assembled shoes. The for-- ward portion of the radiator 11 overhangsthe platform 18-but is far enough above the latter to provide a spacefor the reception of platform so that it may be readilyremoved' thesides of the base 10 are provided with ledges 19 as shown by Fig. 1. Aguard consisting of a bar 20 of heat-insulating iraterial such as woodis preferably'fastened to the forward edge of the radiator 11, partly ofa pan or basin to hold ment with their instepportions, from being thrusttoo. far tothe rear,and partly to prevent the overlying portions of theVamps from touchingthe hot iron of the radiator.

The water tank 12 is supported by two upright rods 21, the base 10 beingprovided with sockets 22 to receive the lower ends of the rodsand thewater tank being provided with sockets 23to receive the upper ends. Thetank may. be lifted from the rods whenever necessary to make repairs orto dismantle the apparatus'for any other purpose. A discharge pipe 245isscrewed into the bottom of the watertank'and is provided with a valve25to-regulate. the discharge of water and to shut off the supply whenthe apparatus is not being used. The discharged water drops through afunnel 26 fastened to a brass plate 27 thatiforins the top of.a-vaporizmg chamber28. :The castiron body of theradiator is dished vtoformsaid chamber As the water drops from the funnel it flows over thehot surface 29 of the cast iron body 11 and is immediately convertedinto vapor under the brass plate 27. Byreason of its expansion the vaporspreads laterally throughout the chamber 28and escapes through manysmall perforations 30. formed in the plate. A sheet of wire fabric -31is-preferably arranged on the upper surface oflthe; brassplate toprevent the Vamps from touching the plate. The vapor that escapes fromthe perforations 30 is therefore given suflicient opportunityto becomedistributed laterally before it reaches the work, instead of beingconcentrated atpoints in register with the perforations. Consequentlythe only parts of the apparatusv touched by the vamps are the guard 20and the wire fabric 31'. The cast iron-body of the heat radiator ispreferably.

provided with many thin ribs or flanges extending upwardly fromthesurface 29 and touching the ,bottom' of the brass plate. These ribsreinforce theplate, transmit heat toit by direct engagement, andexpedite the vaporization of the water byreasonof their relatively greatarea of radiating surface in the 'ch'amber 28.

Although any preferred means 'n'iay be provided to heat the element 11the ill'us trated apparatus is -clesig1ie(l to be heated byelectricheating' unitsf35. Since this apparatus is designed to have acapacity for four shoes atone time it is provided with five heatingunits each of which is embedded in a boss 36 cast on the bottom of theradiator. These bosses arebored horizontally from the rear to providesockets toreceive the units, and are spaced apart a distance equal tothe spacing of the shoes. The sources ofheat are thus distributed so,that each shoe will be between'two of-them. The electric wires 37leading to the units overflow, and in this respect the pan-shaped35'extend through a board or sheet 38 of heat-insulating material(compressed asbestos-board being represented), and the stretches of wirebetween this board and the radiator are enclosed innietal tubes 39 eachserving one pair of wires. As shown by Fig. 3, the sockets containingtheheating units 35 are counterbored to receive the tubes 39 which arefitted tightly in the counter bores and held thereby. In case any" wateris splashed or spilled abovethe radiatorthe tubes 39*wil1 prevent itfrom reaching the wires and the heatingunits The board 38anda'metallic-ho'od d0 detachably fastened to its rear side; togetherform a wir ing manifold in which the conductors are further enclosed.The hood has a boss ll throughwhich a flexibleelectric cordfl2 extendsto connect the units 35 with a rheostat aawhichmay be mounted separatelyon any suitable support.

when the apparatus is controlled and regulated with due care. the watersupplied to the chamber 28 is VtlpOPlZQCl so rapidly that nowateraccumulates therein, but if the valve 25 is opened too' much, or ifthe operator shouldneglect'jto"shut the valve when the electric, currentis turned off, the discharged water would soon overflow the chamber 28and permit the entire contents of the t"ank,12 to spill on the bench oron the floor of the work-room were it not for suitable provision fortaking care of the overflow. One of the featuressof this inventionconsists in means for-taking careof such base 10 "serves as acatch-basin to catch the water. The water. capacity'of the base is flowports are formed in them, the receiving ends of the ports being thuslocated far enough above the level of the surface2-9Kto insurevaporization of all the water in the chamber 28 under correct conditionsofregulation.

The apparatus described herein is capable of administering moisture tothe work in two alternativeways both of which are described in mycopending application Serial" No. 618;- 374, filed February 10, 1923.For example,

when the heat-radiating element 11 is heat ed to its maximumtemperature, as when all the heating units 35 areoperating to theirfull" capacity, both. the heat-radiating surface f 29 and the brassplate 27 are maintained at temperatures above 212 degrees FL; althoughthe'teniperature of the brassplate-is never so high as that of thesurface 29. Under these conditions vapor generated by the surface 29rises as vapor through the holes 30 the brass plate and does not becomecondensed until it reaches the work. This would be the preferable methodof vusing the apparatus when the work to be treated would not be mpu-edby the maximum temperature or by a relatlvely copious supply of vapor,and

when it is desired to heat and moisten the work as rapidly as possible.

On the other hand, when the character-ofthe upper leather or any otherelen' entto'be treated is such that it would be preferable to restrictthe heat and moisture thetempeu ature of the heat-radiating elementcould be reduced either by cutting out one or more of the heating units35. or by means of the rheostat in the box 45 from which the cord orlead wires 42 receive current. However; thetemperature of the radiatingelement 11 is" regulated it is possible to reduce lts tempers" ature toa degree that will still be above 212 degrees while the temperature ofthe brass plate; .27 will be substantially less than 212 degrees. Underthese conditionsthovapor generated by the surface 29" will be condensedby the plate 27 a1id the water'o'f con densat-ion willtill the holes 30and seal them thereby preventing the initial vapor from reaching thework. method of operation the holes 30 a re'made so small that thequantity of water necessary to seal them will be supported by surfacetension. To make the holes readilyapparent in Fig. 3 they areexaggerated but To provide for this low in practice they are preferablyno larger than, if as large as, theshank ofa common pin.

When the apparatus is operating under the' conditions last specified arelatively small aggregate quantity of moisture rises from the manysmall seals or plugs of water held in the holes 30, and these smallbodies of water arecontinuously replenished by the condensation of thevapor that continues to rise from the surface 29. Thus, without alteringthe adjustment of the water valve 25 the quantity as well as thetemperature of the moisture adn'iinistered to the work may be increasedor diminished by regulating the temperature of the element 11,.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Let'- ters Patent of the United States is:

1. A shoetreatingapparatus comprising a heat-radiatlng element adaptedto convert water into hot moist vapor, a tank for supply ng water tosaid heat-radiating element,

and an overflow tank having a: capacity as great as that of said supplytanleand' arranged to catch; water that overflows said heat-radiatingelement;

2. A shoe-treating apparatus comprising a a base, a heata-adiatingelement formed and arranged to vaporize water between the last and vampof an assembled shoe, and a reservoir for Water arranged to dischargeater on said element, said base being formed as a catch-basin to catchany water that ,may overflow said element, and said element being formedand arranged to, discharge such overflow into said catch-basin at apoint or points located to avoid Wetting the last.

3. A shoe-treating apparatus comprising a base in the form of acatch-basin to hold Water, a Work-supporting platform arranged to form acover for said basin and adapted to support the lasts of a series ofshoes as-} sembled on the lasts, a heat-radiating element mounted onsaid base and formedto overhang the toes of the lasts and support thevamps ofthe shoes, and means to-supply water to said element to bevaporized thereby, said element being formed and arranged to dischargeany surplus Water into said. catch-basih at a point or points located toavoid wetting the lasts on said platform.

4:. A shoe-treating apparatus comprising a heat-radiating elementhaving, a shallow dished portion formed and arranged to overhang the toeof the last .and underlie the vamp, means for supporting the last, aforaminous sheet arranged to support the vamp above the bottom of saiddished portion, and means to supply Water to said dished portion, thelatter having an overflow duct the receiving end of which is between thelevels of said foraminous sheet and the bottom of the dished portion. 1

5. An apparatus for treating parts of boots and shoes; comprisingsupporting means having top ridges, and a heat-radiator having bottomridges arranged to cross and rest on said top ridges. the contactbetween said means and heat-radiator being restricted to negligibleareas at the points where, said ridges cross one another.

6. An apparatus for treating parts of boots and shoes, comprisingsupporting means and a heat-radiator havingaplurality of pairs ofcontacting portions by which the heat-radiator is supported, the areasof said contacting portions being restricted to points having anegligible aggregate heat-conduct ing capacity.

7. An apparatus for treating parts of boots and shoes, comprising asupporting base having bosses projectingupwardly, aheat-radiatorl'iaving bottom ridges arranged to bear on said bosses. the contactingportions of said bosses being ridges arranged to cross those o'l'saidradiator to restricttheir contact to points and to afford lateral adjustment, and means arranged to fastensaid heat-radiator to said base.

,8.-An apparatus for treating parts of boots and shoes,comprisingsupporting radiator is supported.

9. An. apparatus for treating parts of boots and shoes, comprisingmetallic supporting means and a metallic heat-radiator havinganti-slipping contacting portions by- Wlnch the heat-radiator issupported and by, Which tlie'areas ofcontact are restricted to anegligible aggregate heatpoints having I conducting capac1ty.- 1 I I I10. A shoe-treating apparatus comprising a base, a heat-radiatingelement mounted.

thereon and having one .or more sockets to receiveelectric heatingunits, posts extending upwardly from said base, a atertank supported bysaid posts above the level of said he'at-radiatingelement to supply aterto the latter, means fastened to said posts to enclose electricconductors leading to said heating units, and tubes extending from saidheat-radiating element to said enclosing means to enclose thecorrespondingportions of the electric conductors. I i 11. A shoetreating apparatus comprising a stationary heat-radiating element havinga series .ofsocketsto receive electric units,a

stationary manifold to receive the conductors for said units,saidmanifold having a series of holes corresponding to said sockets, andaseries of tubes the ends of which are arranged respectively intelescopic relation to said element and in contlguous relation to saidmanifold to enclose. theconductors.

12. Ashoe treating apparatus comprising a base, a heat-radiating elementmounted thereon and'having a'series of socketsto re-,

ceive ,electric units, a Wiring manifold mountedon sald base and havingholes to rece ve the conductors for said units, and a series of tubesfastened to said element and protruding from the mouths ofsaid socketsto said manifold'to enclose the conductors.

13. A treating. apparatus co'mprising means to support one or moreassembled shoes in position for treatment, heat-radiating means formedand-arranged to vaporize A water between the toes of the, lasts and theVamps of the shoes,means to supply ater to said heat-radiating means,and means to re-v ceive surplus Water shed by said heat-radiateingmeans.

14'. A treating apparatus 'comprising meansto support'a series ofassembledshoes in position for treatment, and abridge-likeheataadiator,formed and arranged to span the toes of the lasts andunderlie the Vamps of the shoes, :said heat-radiator having socketsspaced according to thespacing of the shoes and adapted ;toencloseheating units. I I I I I 15. A treating apparatus comprising abridgedike heat-radiator formed and are ranged to span the toes of thelasts and underlie the vamps of a series of assembled shoes and having aseries of sockets to re ceive electric heating units;

16. A treating apparatus comprising a bridge-like heat-radiator havingpedestals at 5 its ends to stand on a support and provide a singleunobstructed space for the toes of the lasts of a series of assembledshoes arranged on such support, said radiator being formed to span thetoes of the lasts and underlie the Vamps of the shoes and having 10 oneor more sockets open at the rear to receiVe and enclose heating units.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification;

FREDERICK M. FURBER.

